The 357 Maximum

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have liked this one since its beginning. Got a Contender barrel by accident and thats all I needed!! I ran across a H&R Topper in Maxi. Later I got my Grail Gun a Savage 24v in 357 Max over 20ga!!

I am planning a video series. (If popular) Range time mostly but some reloading. Featuring different cast bullets.

Here is the maxi next to two other 357 Cases.


View attachment 1477186View attachment 1477187

Data is out there but ya gonna need search older manuals. (This "Contender manual from Load Books has a bunch!) It came to be in the early mid 1980's as a Sillouette caliber with power rivaling the 44 Mag but less recoil able to toppel those 200 meter 55# Steel Rams.

Hope you enjoy

CW

 

[Bret4207]

I always thought the 357 Max was a pretty handy single shot or rifle caliber. The few revolvers I saw for it suffered the same size issue any long case brings. Maybe it's just aesthetics or balance but they seemed way oversized. In something like a 94 Marlin or 92 Winchester, I thought it would have been the cats for medium game. Not quite the 35 Rem, but that one lacks the easy versatility of the Max. That Savage must have been one of the last of them! What a peach that would be. I've seem so few of the 24's outside of 22/410 that I often forget they existed. Lucky dog!

 

[Rick]

Glen did a fine article on the Maxi.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_357Max.pdf

 

[Missionary]

The 357 Max is a winner ! No regrets for the ones we have. I do wish I had bought a Ruger.
If it had been around 10 years earlier maybe there would have been more DW Supermags.
Thank you for that link Rick!

 

[Ben]

I really like my Ruger # 1, 357 Maximum :

I have my doubts that the deer around here will like this load :

357 Maximum
18.5 grs. of IMR - 4227
Fed 205 Match rifle primer.
RCBS , 200 gr. , G/C, HP

 

[Ben]

The rifle also shoots standard 357 Magnums well.

3 rounds fired at 50 yards off of sandbags.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I remember you having that #1 Ben. BEAUTIFUL!!

Yes agreed dandy single shot rifle caliber.

Always wanted a contender carbine bbl or even a aristocrat.

CW

 

[Bret4207]

Ben, I've may have mentioned this before, but if you let your shots spread out a little, like 8-10", the hits are a lot easier to count.

 

[fiver]

mine is in a revolver.
i do weird stuff with it [shrug] just cause... LOL
i mean it's a 35, i got a 375 and a 357.
the max. is kind of a tweener for me, so i just do dumb stuff with it like shoot 250gr. bullets with a ridiculously slow powder, or fling 125's and 180's on top of a case full of H-110.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

mine is in a revolver.
i do weird stuff with it [shrug] just cause... LOL
i mean it's a 35, i got a 375 and a 357.
the max. is kind of a tweener for me, so i just do dumb stuff with it like shoot 250gr. bullets with a ridiculously slow powder, or fling 125's and 180's on top of a case full of H-110.

A good friend used a 357 Max converted H&R single shot with 1680 powder and my 36-270c cast bullet to take this bear a few years back. It was over dogs and he did take two shots. But second was instant kill in base if the neck.



Complete penetration on both shots. I cannot remember velocity but was surprisingly high. I remember a compressed load of powder.

CW

 

[Bret4207]

mine is in a revolver.
i do weird stuff with it [shrug] just cause... LOL
i mean it's a 35, i got a 375 and a 357.
the max. is kind of a tweener for me, so i just do dumb stuff with it like shoot 250gr. bullets with a ridiculously slow powder, or fling 125's and 180's on top of a case full of H-110.

Blackhawk?

 

[Brad]

DW I bet

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

This is my ol 357 MAX---Stevens 44 1/2 --fast twist--can't remember 12 maybe??

fun with very heavy bullet & trail boss, well & 38's & 357's too

I don't care for heavies with a full load off the bench, kick's the old short eye relief scope into my glasses & marks them up, off hand not so bad!

Jeff

 

[Ben]

No able to see your pic.

Ben

 

[Jeff H]

Oh, man, how did I miss this? I'll be following this one, for sure.

One of my favorites, but I've only used it in a carbine and with cast bullets. Previously, a couple H&R single-shots, which shot very well - not to the standard Ben sets, by any means, but under and inch for five at fifty - easily.

First one was a 22" Handi 357 Mag reamed to Max;
Second one was a 16" Handi AAC 300 BLK rebored and reamed to 357 Max (HANDIEST "Handi" I've ever HANDLED!);
Current one is a yet to be fired, 18" MGM barrel for a Contender.

I have only shot the original RDO 190 grain RFN in the first two, but have more to try when I finally get some time. These were shot with 45/45/20 TL and home-made aluminum GCs, no leading and very good accuracy when shot with max/near max charges of the powders I used.

What I have cast up to try in the MGM Contender barrel - if I ever get time:

NOE rendition of the RDO 190 - 4C, with 1 GC and 3 PB cavities;
NOE 360-180 WFN - 4C, with 1 GC and 3 PB cavities;

I plan to experiment mostly with 45/45/10 TL w/GC, but have PC'd some of the plain-bases of each just to try out.

Powders I've used (never got as far as chronographing):
Alliant 2400;
IMR 4227
Alliant 300MP

Small rifle primers:
Wolff "Magnum" which simply just has a thicker cup, presumably to prevent slam-fires in autos.

 

[Jeff H]

I really like mine :

....................................................

So does everyone else!

I never get tired of that one, and I believe it is possibly one of the most envied rifles on this forum.

 

[358156 hp]

I still want to convert a Winchester '94 to 357 Max. It would be pretty simple to do.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

There was a couple guys doing this conversion on the old Greybeards forums. But to Marlin 336. It was something they figured out. I got the impression it was not "easy".

I agree a lever would be awesome.

I realised I didnt have a Dedicated roll Crimp die. So I have it on order.

 

[Jeff H]

I still want to convert a Winchester '94 to 357 Max. It would be pretty simple to do.

I wish it were more practical to do on a 92 Winchester clone, believe me, I've read the many inquiries and replies, but it sure would be cool to have a repeater 357 Max in a 5.5# carbine.

The Handi AAC 300 BLK I converted weighed no more than 5#, and it was nifty and nimble, but 40 or 50 from the bench became tiresome. By no means painful, but certainly annoying after a while. That's a lot of punch in such a tiny carbine. having a few more rounds up it's snoot would be quite amazing.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

My friend is taking delivery of a H&R LWT 20" 22 Hornet bbl rebored to maxi cerokoted and sites fit for his son. 750$ work on a 175$ gun!!

He always thought of reboring a AAC BBL, but never did. That would make a nice light gun!

Mine is 17" but a heavier bbl.



I had a second maxi that I sold as a manlicher.



I altered a factory butt and made the front wood.